The National Alliance on Mental Illness’ third annual StigmaFree Workplace Mental Health Survey shows 70% of respondents said they feel stressed about the state of the world, but only 54% of respondents believe their employer prioritizes their mental health, according to Safety+Health magazine. Responses came from nearly 2,200 full-time workers at companies with at least 100 employees.
Thirty percent of respondents said they feel “very stressed,” which is up 11 percentage points from 2024, and more than 25% have considered quitting because of a job’s effect on their mental health.
Forty-one percent of respondents feel uncomfortable talking about mental health. Reasons for that discomfort include concern they will be judged for discussing mental health challenges (48%); concern about negative effects on their career (46%); and fear of retaliation and losing job opportunities (23%).
Eighty-three percent of workers said they feel comfortable talking about mental health with colleagues they consider a friend; 61% with teammates at work; and 57% with their manager. Only 39% are comfortable talking with human resources, and 30% are comfortable talking with senior leadership.
Workers are looking for mental health resources at work, with 79% saying it would help to receive training regarding mental health conditions; 80% wanting training to identify and respond to a mental health crisis; and 81% seeking training for stress or burnout management.
Mental health training seems to pay off for employers and employees. Eighty-six percent of workers whose employers offer mental health training said they feel supported by their managers compared with 70% who do not receive mental health training. Workers who receive mental health training also were less likely to worry about mental health-related stigma on the job (43%) compared with those who are not trained (52%).
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so be sure to check out NRCA's Mental Health webpage for resources.
